[ Rain's POV ]
I sat across from Athena in a small coffee shop near campus. The air was thick with the scent of roasted beans and a silence so heavy I could barely breathe. She said she wanted to talk, but now that we were here, the words seemed to fail her.
"Athy," I said softly, breaking the quiet.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, staring into her cup. "I just... I don't know how to start."
"Did you and Fran... have you met yet?" I asked, my voice stuttering. I was terrified of the explosion that would happen if they crossed paths again.
"No. After that night, we never spoke again. He blocked me everywhere."
So, Fran had cut her off first.
"And you did the same, Rain," she said, looking up with sad, searching eyes. "You suddenly ignored me too. I tried to message you, but you never replied."
"I..." I had no excuse. I was trying to save what was left of my life with Fran.
"Rain," she said suddenly, reaching across the table to place her hand over mine. "Can't you give us a chance? Fran and I broke up a long time ago."
I pulled my hand away as if her skin were made of fire. A wave of guilt washed over me—the same feeling of betraying Fran all over again. "Athy, I told you before. It's not like that. I don't feel that way about you."
She went silent, her eyes widening with a painful realization. It was all my fault. Fran was hurting, Athena was hurting, and I was the common denominator.
[ FLASHBACK ]
In 11th grade, my world was balanced. My nights belonged to the apartment I shared with Fran, and my afternoons belonged to the library, where I worked as a watchman alongside Athena.
Athena and I had a "thing"—a mutual interest that was never spoken out loud. But then, Fran decided to pursue her. Not knowing about our connection, he became her suitor. For Fran's sake, I walked away. I ghosted her. I became the "third wheel" to their relationship, watching from the sidelines as they became the campus's most famous couple.
But by last semester of grade 12, the "perfect couple" suddenly broke up. Fran was devastated. For three months, I spent every night drinking with him, trying to glue his heart back together.
Three weeks before graduation, Athena called me. She was drunk and crying.
I picked her up, but she was too far gone to tell me where her keys were. I couldn't leave her on the street, so I brought her to our apartment. I thought maybe, if she stayed there, she and Fran could finally talk it out. I hated seeing him in pain.
Fran wasn't home yet. I laid her on my bed and brought her water.
"Athy. Drink this."
She sat up, her eyes glassy. "Rain..." She grabbed my hands. "Don't you like me anymore?"
I was stunned. "Why are you asking that now? You're drunk."
"I... I still like you," she whispered. Suddenly, her hand was on my face. She leaned in, almost kissing me, but I pushed her back. "You're still the one I want, Rain. I've liked you since junior high. Why did you stop? Did I do something wrong?"
Tears began to stream down her face. My heart broke for her—not as a lover, but as a friend. I reached out to wipe her tears, feeling guilty for ghosting her all those years ago. But the moment my fingers touched her cheek, she pulled me in.
She pressed her lips to mine. I was paralyzed, my mind screaming to pull away, but my body wouldn't move—until the sound of a beer can hitting the floor echoed through the room.
Fran was standing in the doorway.
"Fran!" I stood up, gasping. He didn't say a word; he just turned and bolted. I chased him into the parking lot.
"Fran, wait! I can explain!" I grabbed his wrist, but he spun around and slammed me against a car, gripping my collar.
"What the f*ck, Rain?! What was that?!" His eyes were bloodshot with fury.
"Calm down! It's not what it looks like!"
"Calm down? You're my best friend! You're my brother! You're the only person I believed in!" he roared. "Were you lying to me this whole time? People told me something was going on with you and her in the past, but I didn't believe them because I trusted you!"
"Fran, listen to me—"
"I don't want to hear another lie from you! Get lost! Don't show your face to me ever again!"
He roared off on his motorbike, leaving me in the dust.
For two weeks, he ignored me. Rumors spread like wildfire that Athena and I had cheated on him. Everyone hated us.
By graduation day, the tension was unbearable. Our parents were there, so we had to pretend to be okay.
"Fran, please," I whispered when we were finally alone. "Let's talk."
"Are you done?" he snapped, his eyes cold as ice.
"Fine," I said, my own temper finally fraying. "If you want to act like this, I'll move out. It's your house anyway. I don't want to fight anymore."
"No," he growled, stepping close. "You're not moving out. I'll come back so our parents don't worry. But don't you dare talk to me. I'll endure this sh*t until we graduate college, and then I'm done with you."
He walked away, and true to his word, he moved back in. But the "Forever" we had promised each other was gone.
[ Present Day ]
Sitting in the coffee shop, I looked at Athena's hand near mine. Fran had kept his word. He had endured living in silence with me. And now, seeing her again... I realized the "sh*t" he was enduring was about to hit its breaking point.
I deserve this.